China, Japan commemorate scholarship program

The 10th anniversary of the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship Program is celebrated at the Japanese Embassy in China on Tuesday, people.com.cn reported.

The commemoration is one of the activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations, according to the report.

"More than 320 students have graduated within the last 10 years, which makes a great contribution to Sino-Japanese friendship and China's economic construction," Yu Jianhua, Assistant Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China said during the activity.

"The program helps increase Chinese students' understanding toward Japan and will promote mutual trust between the two countries," said Uichiro Niwa, Japanese Ambassador to China.

The objective of the JDS Program is to provide citizens of the People's Republic of China with opportunities for academic research at Japanese Universities in order to support the Government of China in its efforts to facilitate its own plans for human resource development, for social and economic development, and thereby extending and enhancing the bilateral relationship between China and Japan.

The program targets young government officers with the potential to play leadership roles after their return to china.